Newly Named Damon Martin Division II Men's Program of the Year Award Goes to Adams State

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Newly Named Damon Martin Division II Men's Program of the Year Award Goes to Adams State
May 30, 2014

NEW ORLEANS – For the sixth year in a row since it was first awarded, the Adams State men have claimed the Division II Men's Program of the Year award, presented by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

DII Men's Program of the Year Standings - Top 5
Rank Team Score
1 Adams State 5
2 Grand Valley State 15
3 Southern Indiana 36½
4 Western State 38
5 Alaska Anchorage 41
FULL STANDINGS

But this year is special. For the first time during that stretch, the trophy they will receive for their outstanding 2013-14 cross country and track & field campaign will henceforth bear the name of their head cross country coach: the Damon Martin Division II Men's Program of the Year Award.

"Damon is very deserving to have his name attached to this award of outstanding achievement," Adams State Athletics Director Larry Mortensen said. "What he has meant to our community and university here at Adams State is immeasurable. Not only is he a great coach, but he mentors a great number of national-championship-caliber citizens.

"We are humbled to have someone of his quality be associated with this university, and we are thrilled to have this association with this Program of the Year award."

MORE INFO: Award History

The USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding cross country/track & field programs in each of the NCAA’s three divisions for each gender.

In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for each of the NCAA Championships. Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Championship in cross country and both indoor and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, etc.) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.

With a runner-up showing at this past weekend's NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in Allendale, Mich., the Grizzlies men wrapped up a 2013-14 campaign that also included a narrow runner-up finish at the indoor championships by just 1½ points and a national team title during the cross country season.

The cross country team title combined with two runner-up track & field team finishes gave Adams State five points, well ahead of Grand Valley State's runner-up 15 points.

After finishing a program-best second at the cross country championships, the Lakers – who finished in the award's top three for the first time – were sixth and seventh at the indoor and outdoor national championships, respectively.

Rounding out the top five were Southern Indiana (36½ points) in its first top-three appearance, Western State (38) and Alaska Anchorage (41).

The Damon Martin Division II Men's Program of the Year Award is named after current Adams State head cross country and assistant track & field coach Damon Martin. As of the 2014 season, Martin's men's squads have claimed seven national cross country team titles, including four of the past five; a national indoor track & field team title; and a national outdoor track & field team title. His program has claimed each of the first six Division II Men's Program of the Year Awards.




U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
1100 Poydras Street, Suite 1750
New Orleans, LA 70163

Contact: Kyle Terwillegar
Communications Assistant
kyle@ustfccca.org
(504) 599-8905